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Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Let us unite to liberate Bhojshala (Saraswati Temple) to regain Hindu Rights !

Bhojshala : Ayodhya of Madhya Pradesh !

'Bhojshala' is an ancient and the only temple of Mata Saraswati, built by Raja Bhoj in 1034 AD. ('See Photo Evidences') Bhojshala was home to thousands of students and scholars and it was main centre of education. Attacks on Bhojshala started from 1305 AD and Muslims built today's Kamal Moulana dargah near Bhojshala. ('Read Detailed Timeline of Facts')

Bhojshala has become victim of Governments of Madhya Pradesh due to appeasement of Muslims for votes. Today Archeological Survey of India (ASI) allows everyone to go inside Bhojshala 'as a tourist' with fees. On every Tuesday, Hindus are allowed to enter in Bhojshala and offer flowers and akshata to Saraswati Mata. But since the new idol of Vagdevi is seized by Madhya Pradesh government and kept in Gwalior jail, Hindus can't offer anything to Saraswati Mata. On every Friday, Muslims are allowed to offer Namaz in Bhojshala complex. Vasant (Basant) Panchami, also known as Mata Saraswati Jayanti is the only day in the year on which Hindus are allowed to perform full-fledge puja by taking idol or photo of Mata Saraswati inside Bhojshala. So Muslims can offer Namaz in Bhojshala 52 times in a year, but Hindus can perform puja only once in a year. It should be noted that Dhar, where Bhojshala is located, has 16 mosques to offer Namaz.

What do you want in Bhojshala on this Vasant Panchami (15th February 2013) - Puja or Namaz ?

Maa Saraswati Puja Namaz in Bhojshala

In year 2006, Vasant (Basant) Panchami was on friday, so the demand of the Hindus to perform puja in Bhojshala for the full day was refused and the police also used force against Hindu devotees and arrested many. Now this year 2013, again Vasant (Basant) Panchami happens to be on friday and Hindu Devotees are demanding to perform puja for the whole day and restrict Muslims to offer Namaz in Bhojshala on this day. Also the BJP Govt. should release Vagdevi (Mata Saraswati) idol from Gwalior Jail, which was installed by Hindus in Bhojshala.
For details refer tabs 'Timeline of Facts' and 'Photo Evidences'.

O Hindus, take up this challenge and do your duty towards Dharma !

The moment Taser police take down knifeman outside Buckingham Palace: Terror at Changing of the Guard as man breaks security cordon

  • Talhat Rehman, 54, charged with possessing a bladed weapon in public and affray
  • Harrow resident will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court today
  • Metropolitan Police confirm taser was used in central London at 11:50am
  • Photos show man holding knife to his throat during Changing of the Guard
  • Queen and Prince Philip were at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk at the time

Dramatic: Police officers tasered a man holding a knife to his throat outside Buckingham Palace yesterday
Dramatic: Police officers tasered the man pictured holding a knife to his throat outside Buckingham Palace yesterday

Holding a blade to his own throat, this was the moment a knifeman brought chaos to the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

Talhat Rehman, 54, of Harrow, has been charged with possessing a bladed weapon in public and affray, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court today.

The middle-aged man walked through crowds of tourists clutching two large kitchen knives before police surrounded him and used a Taser stun gun to disarm him.

As a policeman shouted a warning call of ‘Taser, Taser, Taser’ to his colleagues, the knifeman allegedly lunged forward, brandishing a six-inch blade in a series of swipes, before falling to the floor as he was stunned by the electrical charge.
Scary: The dramatic incident saw the man brandish two knives in front of hundreds of terrified tourists
Scary: The dramatic incident saw the 54-year-old brandish two knives in front of hundreds of terrified tourists
tasertaser
Down: The knifeman charged towards a police officer outside Buckingham Palace who fired a taser gun at him
Scroll down for video

A video showed Mr Rehman shouting and holding the knife to his throat as he walked past the Victoria Memorial, towards the gates of the palace.

Police officers shouted to tourists to keep away from the man as they raced to surround him.

The Harrow man, who clutched a set of wooden beads and wore a flat woollen hat similar to the pakuls traditionally worn by men in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, was later arrested.

The drama unfolded as crowds gathered outside the palace before the midday Changing of the Guard ceremony, one of London’s most popular tourist attractions.

Witnesses described seeing the bespectacled man breaking through a barrier and walking towards the palace before he was stopped and surrounded by police.

VIDEO Man holds knife to throat before being tasered at Buckingham Palace


The moment: This photo (unpixelated at source) was posted on Twitter by Josh Greenberg, captioned: 'Another photo from #Buckingham palace moments ago - Male with a #knife to his neck #Tasered by #Police'
The moment: This photo (unpixelated at source) was posted on Twitter by Josh Greenberg, captioned: 'Another photo from #Buckingham palace moments ago - Male with a #knife to his neck #Tasered by #Police'
Police response: Twitter user Josh Greenberg also posted this picture from outside Buckingham Palace
Police response: Twitter user Josh Greenberg also posted this picture from outside Buckingham Palace

Eyewitness Kevin Burrows, 33, said: ‘He had a knife in each hand.

‘The police were on him in seconds, he didn’t have a chance of getting close to anyone.

‘They surrounded him, they were telling him to calm down, and then a policeman Tasered him.’ Mr Burrows, a kitchen porter from Surbiton, Surrey, added: ‘The police were fantastic, it was all over in minutes. The procession was diverted away from him and the band just kept playing.’
Left behind: Knives, a hat and taser wire in an cordoned off area outside Buckingham Palace in central London
Left behind: Knives, a hat and taser wire in an cordoned off area outside Buckingham Palace in central London

On the ground: A pair of trainers and a backpack in a cordoned off area outside Buckingham Palace in London
On the ground: A pair of trainers and a backpack in a cordoned off area outside Buckingham Palace in London
tasertaser
On scene: Twitter user LondonPRGuru posted these pictures of the aftermath of the incident in central London
Police standing guard: A cordoned off area containing knives, a hat and taser wire outside Buckingham Palace
Police standing guard: A cordoned off area containing knives, a hat and taser wire outside Buckingham Palace
Witnesses have said the band played on as the chaos unfolded
Witnesses have said the band played on as the chaos unfolded

Another witness, Grant Shepherd, filmed the incident and put it on YouTube. He described the scene in a
POLICE Palace copy.jpg
Twitter message, saying: ‘Crazy man with a knife to his throat just stopped the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.’

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were at Sandringham but were understood to have been informed about the drama. Scotland Yard is responsible for security at the palace and armed officers maintain a round-the-clock presence there, even when members of the Royal Family are not in residence.

Police cordoned off the area where the Taser was fired, some 30 yards from the palace gates.

The man, who has not been named, was checked by medics and arrested on suspicion of affray. Shocked tourists said police told them the man could have ‘mental health issues’.

In June 1982 an intruder armed with a knife managed to get on to the palace forecourt before he was stopped.

A month later Michael Fagan got inside the Queen’s private chambers while the monarch was still in bed.
Tourists view the personal effects of a suspect at the scene between the Queen Victoria Memorial and Buckingham PalaceA cornered off area containing knives, a hat and Taser wire outside Buckingham Palace in central London after a man was been Tasered by police
Bystanders: Tourists view the personal items of a suspect at the scene between the Queen Victoria Memorial and Buckingham Palace
Forensics: A scenes of crime officer documents evidence from a scene between the Queen Victoria Memorial and Buckingham Palace where police subdued a man with a taser who was in possession of two knives
Forensics: A scenes of crime officer documents evidence from a scene between the Queen Victoria Memorial and Buckingham Palace where police subdued a man with a taser who was in possession of two knives
Up close: A scenes of crime officer photographs a hat and two knives from the scene in central London
Up close: A scenes of crime officer photographs a hat and two knives from the scene in central London
The Duke of Edinburgh leaves St Peter and St Paul church in West Newton, on the royal Sandringham estate in NorfolkQueen Elizabeth II leaves St Peter and St Paul church in West Newton, on the royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk
Royal couple: The Queen and Prince Philip - who were not at Buckingham Palace at the time of the incident - were pictured leaving St Peter and St Paul Church in West Newton on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk


Pakistan fails to stop killings of Shias


Nearly 3,000 Shias in Baluchistan province killed in sectarian violence over the last decade.

Sectarian violence in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province led to the dismissal of the local government last month.

The central government has taken over, but attacks continue against minority Hazara Shia Muslims.

According to one estimate, over the last ten years, nearly 3,000 Shias in Quetta, Balochistan's provincial capital, have been killed in attacks.

Al Jazeera's Imran Khan reports from Quetta.

Source: Al Jazeera

Unity Department D-G tells Malaysians to stop talking about ‘Allah’

Let the courts decide, says Azman. — File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Putrajaya urged Malaysians today to refrain from discussing the controversy over the word “Allah” being used by non-Muslims to refer to their gods.

National Unity and Integration Department (NUID) director-general Datuk Azman Amin Hassan said that the contentious row should be left to the courts to resolve, referring to the federal government’s appeal against a 2009 High Court judgment that ruled “Allah” was not exclusive to Islam.

“Everybody shouldn’t discuss about it because it creates a lot of animosity,” Azman told The Malaysian Insider today.

“We’ve got to still wait for the final (court) decision to ease the situation,” he added.

The High Court ruled in December 2009 that the Catholic Church has the right to use the word “Allah” in the Bahasa Malaysia section of its weekly publication The Herald.

But the Home Ministry filed an appeal against the ruling in January 2010. No court date has been fixed for the hearing yet.

Azman, who also heads the Cabinet’s Special Committee to Promote Understanding and Harmony Among Religious Adherents (JKMPKA), said the interfaith panel was discussing the matter internally, but refused to divulge details, saying only that “all religious leaders understand the issue.”

A Buddhist group has urged the NUID to resolve the long-drawn out dispute after Malay rights group Perkasa recently called on Muslims to burn Malay-language bibles that contain the word “Allah” and other religious Arabic script.

The tug-of-war over the word “Allah” between the Muslims and non-Muslims, particularly the Christian community, first arose in 2007 when the Catholic Church was banned from using the Arabic word in The Herald.

Other cases include Sarawakian Christian Jill Ireland’s court challenge against the Home Ministry for its 2008 seizure of her personal collection of religious CDs bearing the word “Allah” at an airport.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on May 4, 2009, granted leave to the ethnic Melanau to challenge the Home Ministry’s act, saying that Jill had the right to “own, receive, use, import, distribute and possess” any material with the word “Allah” on it.

In the terms of the order, Jill was also granted a declaration that it was a “legitimate expectation” for her to possess or use these materials for the purpose of conducting her religious faith freely.

Despite the formation of the JKMPKA in 2011, there appears to be no serious inroads made to the “Allah” issue, with Putrajaya yet to give a clear stand.

But following the controversial blocking and confiscation of Malay-language bibles containing the word “Allah” catering to Bumiputera Christians in 2011, which were subsequently released by the government, a 10-point formula was drawn up in April 2011.

In the Najib administration’s 10-point resolution, the Cabinet, through its minister Datuk Seri Idris Jala, assured the large Bumiputera Christian population in Sarawak and Sabah that they were free to bring in and use their bibles in Malay as well as in indigenous languages.

Jala also said that the Bible could now be printed locally in any language, including in Iban, Kadazan-Dusun and Lun Bawang.

An April 2011 circular to Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak himself stated that Christians and those of other faiths can import and use bibles in any languages, including Bahasa Malaysia.

The “Allah” issue could affect voter support for political parties in the next general election that must be called by April.

The issue was previously turned into election fodder during the 2011 Sarawak polls, where many of the voters there were from the Christian community.

RPK: Get Mahathir, Anwar to testify

The two should be subpoenaed by the Sabah RCI as they know more than what they're telling us, says Malaysia Today editor.

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, his deputy in the 1990s, should be made to testify in the Sabah’s Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI),

Prominent blogger and Malaysia Today editor, Raja Petra Kamarudin, said it would help in the RCI’s probe into Sabah immigrants and the Project IC as they were the decision-makers then.

“I feel that both Mahathir and Anwar must be called to testify in the RCI, as should all those others in power since the 1970s until today,” said Raja Petra, popularly referred to as RPK.

“They know more than what they are telling us. There is more than meets the eye here and finger- pointing is not the right way to go,” he said in a blog posting today.

Mahathir and Anwar accused each other of being complicit in the citizenship-for-votes scam in the 1990s which saw about 200,000 Sabah immigrants obtaining Malaysian citizenship.

Mahathir claimed that Anwar had acted without his orders, while Anwar said the task force to grant citizenship to Sabah immigrants was managed by Mahathir.

RPK believed that Project IC was “a series of episodes” which happened at different times due to different reasons.

Separate the wheat from the chaff

He said despite the typical stereotyping of Sabah immigrants, there were genuine refugees who escaped from Mindanao, Philippines, when war erupted in the region in 1970s.

“On humanitarian grounds the Bangsa Moro Muslims must certainly be accorded refugee status as were the Burmese, Vietnamese, Cambodians and those from Southern Thailand.

“The granting of citizenship to them is justified. Even the US, Canada, Australia, some European countries classified them as refugees and took them in as did Malaysia,” he said.

RPK also claimed that all political parties which had ruled Sabah, be it Usno, Berjaya or PBS, have allowed refugees to enter Sabah.

However, the self-exiled blogger claimed there were also scenarios where immigrants were given citizenship by syndicates for pure monetary gains or election purposes.

“Let us hope the RCI gets to the bottom of this and separate the wheat from the chaff.

“We certainly want to nail those who personally profited from selling Malaysian citizenship, and those who padded the electoral roll with ‘new citizens’,” said RPK.

MIC’s show of strength a bit too late?

MIC's Ponggal festival on Saturday attracted a large crowd but is it really a reflection of Indian support towards the party?

KUALA LUMPUR: Last Saturday, the MIC organised a “Unity Ponggal” festival attended by more than 80,000 Indians at Dataran Merdeka.

The event was officiated by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who was clearly elated with the turnout. He promised that he was and would be steadfast in efforts to increase the Malaysian Indian equity to 3% of the nation’s economic pie.

He also pledged that the government was committed in turning all the 523 Tamil schools in the country to fully-aided schools.

In any other circumstances, these two promises would have been met with applause. But these are changed times. The people, especially Indians, are demanding more. They have moved away from Tamil schools, estate problems, small and medium-sized industry loans and such.

The MIC, being the largest Indian-based political party in the country, however, is still stuck with these issues.

The party is not moving on par with the community’s wishes.

Soon after the 2008 general election drubbing, the party underwent a leadership change with S Samy Vellu handing over the reins to G Palanivel.

In the all important election the party only won three out of the nine seats it contested. Samy Vellu and Palanivel lost their seats in Sungai Siput and Hulu Selangor respectively.

There was a huge outcry for Samy Vellu to vacate the party top post. Political pundits were then saying that if Samy Vellu did not quit, it would be doom for MIC. Pressure was on the veteran politician to move aside and hand over the party to Palanivel.

Samy Vellu did resign. Palanivel was ushered in on a red carpet. Many had expected a new era for the party. They thought the time to rejuvenate the party would begin in earnest, after the over 30-year iron-clad rule of Samy Vellu.

In came Palanivel with so much promise and hope. But this did not last long.

Palanivel was unable to connect with the grassroots.

Samy Vellu was better

Unlike MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, Palanivel was unable to defend the party against opposition fire.

His publicity-shy style of leadership was viewed as weak, mundane and lethargic so much so that the same political pundits who predicted the party’s doom if Samy Vellu stayed on started singing a different song.

They now feel that Samy Vellu was definitely a better leader to lead the party in all aspects.

With the general election to be held within the next 90 days, the party is ringing its alarm bells. The party’s priority was picking candidates for the nine parliamentary and 19 state assembly seats.

Led by Palanivel, the lethargic-looking MIC was rarely focused on winning the hearts and minds of Indian voters, who were cajoled instead by Najib.

“MIC left Najib to handle Indian voters. The Ponggal celebration was the biggest event organised by the party since Palanivel took over. And that too was organised by party vice-president S Saravanan… he took the cake in arranging the event and not Palanivel,” said a party insider, who declined to be named.

Now many questioned the motive behind the Ponggal festival. Was it to show that Indians were back with the ruling Barisan Nasional? Or was it MIC’s way to convince Najib that Indians were solidly behind the party?

Observers feel the show of strength by the party during the Ponggal festival would give the party more clout in demanding for seats and allow it to pit its chosen candidates for the general election.

Najib would have little say on the matter, at least this is what the MIC thinks.

Party ‘disorientated’

But not everything is smooth in the party. A larger battle is brewing ahead of the party elections slatted for mid-year. The war lords want a more active and vibrant party.

They are willing to see a new president who would make them proud of being a MIC member.

Party leaders are sharpening their swords before the party battle. Some just want to secure seats to contest the general election while others have already begun lobbying for the party elections.

The party is itself “disoriented”. The gathering on Saturday evening at the historic Dataran Merdeka gave party members something to cheer about. It gave them a sense of belonging, which was missing over the last three years.

The gathering also showed that there was light at the end of the tunnel in the MIC.

But will this be enough for party candidates to win seats at the upcoming general election?

Has MIC really obtained the backing of Indian voters, who turned their backs on the BN at the last election, or is it too late for the party?

‘Vote BN out’ roadshows get moving

Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia said that the general election would be a battle between Barisan Nasional and the people.

KUALA LUMPUR: Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) will be holding 17 roadshows this month to raise awareness among the people to vote out Barisan Nasional in the general election.

Speaking at a press conference today, SAMM national coordinator Badrul Hisham Shaharin said that the first roadshow was held on Feb 1 in Malacca.

“We will go all over the peninsula.The last event will be the People’s Demand Convention in Kuala Lumpur, scheduled for Feb 23,” he said.

The venue and the time for the convention are yet to be confirmed

The roadshows, Badrul said, would be supported by the Anything but Umno (ABU) movement and other NGOs that aspire to put Pakatan Rakyat in power.

On details of the roadshows, Badrul, who is also PKR Rembau division chief, said that SAMM would educate the masses on the importance of voting BN out from federal power.

“We want to educate them that a new beginning can only start with the fall of BN. For that, we must do all it takes to vote the ruling coalition out,” he said.

He added that they will also distribute about three million pamphlets to security personnel, housewives and others to keep them informed on the recent happenings in the country.

“We must educate the people that the fight is not between BN and Pakatan. It’s between BN and the people,” he said.

Badrul could not confirm whether Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim will be attending the convention.

“We have extended invitations to all political party leaders. So we will see who replies,” he said.

Ex-cops suspect abuse of govt grant

Members of the Malaysian Ex-Police Association ask: Where is the RM0.5m given last year?

PETALING JAYA: Several members of the Malaysian Ex-Police Association (MPA) have demanded that their president, Shafie Bakri, explain how a RM500,000 government grant is being used.

Their spokesman, Nasiruddin Mohamed (photo, seated second from left), told a press conference today that the money was disbursed to MPA last March and was meant to be used as assistance for retired policemen. Also present was Solidari Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) national coordinator Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

“But we’ve found out that RM200,000 was transferred to a company in Klang that was said to be acting as the agent receiving the funds,” he added.

Nasiruddin said he and other MPA members had lodged numerous reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) against Shafie to no avail.

He also said this was not the first time MPA had experienced trouble with Shafie’s leadership, alleging that the latter had spent nearly RM600,000 of the association’s funds on dinner programmes and other social functions.

“We also found that he had liquidated about RM200,000 worth of premium savings certificates for no apparent reason.”

He urged MACC and ROS to take action against Shafie, saying they should show concern for the wellbeing of former policemen.

He accused ROS as being particularly negligent despite having received complaints against Shafie since 2005.

“And please don’t victimise MPA for the fault of one man,” he said, addressing ROS. “If you dissolve the MPA for this, the police veterans will stage a mass protest.”

Nasiruddin claims to be a vice-president in MPA, but Shafie told FMT that his accuser had never held any major executive position in the association and had been kicked out for making “baseless accusations” against it.

Referring to the RM500,000 grant, Shafie said RM200,000 had been used for MPA activities and not transferred to any company.

“The remaining RM300,000 is still in the MPA accounts,” he said. “We audit our books every year. Why can’t Nasiruddin wait for last year’s account to be released before hurling allegations?”

He said Nasiruddin and his supporters had been accusing MPA of various improprieties since 2005 but had failed to impress the authorities.

“Nasiruddin even took us to court seven times and we won all the cases,” he added.

“As a former cop, Nasiruddin should respect the law and stop his slander against the MPA.”

Pemuda MIC selar Pakatan politikkan kematian Sugumaran

Ia sudah dua minggu, di mana mendiang sudah sepatutnya diberikan upacara terakhir tetapi pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat masih lagi menggunakan mendiang bagi tujuan politik, kata Mohan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pemuda MIC hari ini mengutuk tindakan pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang sengaja mempolitikkan kematian pengawal keselamatan C Sugumaran.

Ketua Pemuda T Mohan berkata, MIC berasa kesal di atas kematian Sugumaran dan berharap bahawa punca sebenar kematian dapat dikenal pasti dan sekiranya terdapat elemen jenayah, pihak yang bertanggungjawab hendaklah dihadapankan ke muka pengadilan.

Dalam satu kenyataan media, Mohan menyelar tindakan pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan kerana masih terus mempolitikkan kematian Sugumaran.

“Walaupun pihak polis telah memberi kebenaran untuk bedah siasat kali kedua ke atas Sugumaran, namuh begitu namun peguam-peguam dari Pakatan Rakyat yang mewakili keluarga si mati ternyata masih bermain politik memandangkan PRU-13 akan diadakan pada bila-bila masa,” katanya.

Sugumaran, berkerja sebagai pengawal keselamatan di Kajang, Selangor meninggal dunia pada 23 Januari lalu ketika pihak polis cuba memberkasnya.

Di atas permintaan pihak polis, Pejabat Peguam Negara pada 29 Januari 2013 telah memberi kebenaran supaya satu inkues diadakan bagi mengenalpasti punca sebenar kematianya.

“Selain itu, pihak polis juga pada 31 Januari lalu telah memberi kebenaran kepada keluarga mendiang untuk melantik seorang pakar bebas bagi menjalankan bedah siasat kali kedua bagi mengenal pasti punca sebenar kematian.”

“Tetapi, tindakan pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat melambatkan bedah siasat kedua oleh pakar bebas adalah amat mencurigakan kerana motifnya adalah untuk meraih simpati dan juga mengelirukan masyarakat India,” kata Mohan.

“Ia sudah dua minggu, di mana mendiang sudah sepatutnya diberikan upacara terakhir tetapi pemimpin-pemimpin pakatan Rakyat masih lagi menggunakan mendiang bagi tujuan politik,” tambah beliau.

Mohan juga berkata pemuda MIC juga kesal kerana pemimpin-pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat telah menolak inkues yang dicadangkan.
Kami percaya bahawa inkues ke atas kematian Sugumaran penting bagi mengenalpasti punca kematian, tambah Mohan.

PKR kecam ‘samseng’ Umno ganggu program Anwar

Mereka memang berniat untuk mengganggu dan menggagalkan program tersebut, kata Ketua Penerangan PKR negeri, Hairiz Nordin.

JASIN: PKR mengecam tindakan ‘samseng’ Umno yang menganggu tiga program Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Taman Melaka Perdana, Alor Gajah, petang semalam.

Tiga program tersebut ialah di Alor Gajah, Jasin dan Tanjung Keling, kata Pengarah Pilihanraya PKR Melaka, Mohd Yusof Abdullah.

Di pesta Ponggal di Alor Gajah, lebih 30 samseng berkumpul kira-kira 50 meter dari tapak program dan menaikkan sepanduk provokasi serta memaki hamun dengan kata-kata kesa.

“Mereka memang bernait untuk menganggu dan menggagalkan program tersebut,” kata Ketua Penerangan PKR negeri, Hairiz Nordin.

Bagaimanapun, kata Hairiz tidak ada kejadian buruk berlaku kerana penyokong Pakatan Rakyat tidak menghiraukan provokasi mereka.

Tetapi, katanya, apa yang memalukan ialah program anjuran PKR ini dibuat di rumah individu dan tidak menganggu orang awam.

“Pihak kami juga sudah mengadakan perbincangan dengan pihak polis mengenai program tersebut dan difahamkan polis telah memberitahu kumpulan berkenaan supaya jangan membuat sebarang gangguan,” katanya.

Manakala Mohd Yusof menegaskan, gangguan berterusan terhadap program pembangkang menunjukkan mereka takut kebangkitan rakyat Melaka.

Katanya, sebelum ini program PKR Jelajah Merdeka juga diganggu di Melaka.

Hisham: Don’t play with racial and religious issues

http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2013/2/4/nation/hishammuddin-fish-fry-n04.jpg(The Star) - The Government will not hesitate to take action against those who sensationalise racial and religious issues, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Without naming any individual or group, he said the Government had the right to take legal action against anyone who jeopardised national harmony.

“More baseless allegations linked to racial and religious issues will surface with the upcoming general election.

“If such matters are proven wrong, we will not hesitate (to take action) as the laws are there,” he told reporters after launching the My Beautiful Malaysia Day programme in Batu Berendam here yesterday.

Also present were Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and other state leaders.

Hishammuddin said that recent allegations against agencies such as the police force and National Registration Department were made to divert people's attention from the good things that were taking place in the country.

He cited the claims of 300,000 Indians being stateless and the sending of uncollected identity documents to Sabah, which he said were untrue.

“The rakyat must not be manipulated and become angry or emotional before finding out the truth.

“We must be wise to see the current political scenario by remaining calm, followed by investigation before action,” he added.

He also called on Malaysians to focus on the “bigger national agenda” instead of getting themselves carried away with baseless accusations and politics of hatred.

Farmer Suicides in India


This bitter Earth
This bitter Earth
(Asia Sentinel) The woes of Vidarbha
On January 14, during Makar Sankranti, a major festival, when India's farming community traditionally conducts elaborate rituals to celebrate a bountiful harvest, two young farmers committed suicide in the Vidarbha region of southern Maharashtra.

Caught in the complex interplay of spiraling debt, failed crops and governmental apathy, cotton farmers Ramu Shende, 37, and Sanjay Mahurle, 36, killed themselves by drinking pesticide.

The two deaths also set in motion the farm suicide spiral with which Vidarbha grapples every year. In the first month of this year alone, for instance, mounting debt and distress due to crop losses have claimed the lives of 10 farmers, which led the region's farm widows and bereaved families to mark Republic Day (January 26) as `Black Day'.

Not for nothing is Vidarbha dubbed India's `farmer suicide capital'. However, over the past few years the area has been reeling under its worst agrarian crisis ever. leading to an escalation in the number of suicides. In 2006, 1044 farmers killed themselves in the impoverished region while last year, 1,000 suicides were recorded.

According to a study conducted by the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, the major drivers are debt, crop failure and low returns, illness of family members, failure to arrange marriage of daughters and a lack of alternative sources of income.

Although farmers kill themselves in other Indian states as well (Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka and Orissa), Vidarbha's case unique because falls in Maharashtra, one of India's most prosperous states. The region is famous for growing oranges and cotton, apart from being rich in minerals, coal, forests and mountains. Ironically, it has always been underdeveloped with its full potential untapped despite holding two-thirds of Maharashtra's mineral resources, three quarters of its forest resources and being a net producer of power.

Largely due to neglect from the state government and its lackluster political leadership, in recent times, there have been increasingly strident calls for a separate state of Vidarbha. Farmers' living conditions are so poor that more than 32,000 farmers have killed themselves in Maharashtra in a decade, of which 70 percent have taken place in the 11 districts of Vidarbha.

Governmental apathy only makes things worse. According to a report by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, last year when the government announced relief packages for the affected families, there was hardly any visible or transformative effect on suicide behavior. Farmers attribute this to the fact that none of their concerns are ever factored into the design of any of the rehabilitation measures.

In April 2007 Green Earth Social Development Consulting produced a report after doing an audit of the state and central government relief packages in Vidarbha. The report's conclusions were that inputs were not sought from any of the stakeholders ? neither the farmers nor civil society organizations, local government bodies nor the panchayats or local administrative units.

The relief packages, said the report, were mostly amalgamations of existing schemes. "Apart from the farmer helpline and the direct financial assistance, there was scarcely anything new being offered. Pumping extra funds into additional schemes shows that no effort was being made to solve a situation where existing measures had obviously failed," noted the report.

Against the backdrop of such state neglect, it is hardly surprising that despite the government's own assessment of 4.2 million hectares of Vidharbha's land being "badly affected," none of the districts in the region are covered in the recent U$1 million relief aid announced by the Centre.

"Farmers are losing faith in the government due to its failure to design and implement effective pro-poor policies for the small farmers who survive on agriculture," said Balkrishna Hedge, who works with a local NGO. "The administration offered financial relief packages only to the families of deceased farmers who were unable to manage payments on their bank loans. But this alone isn't sufficient."

The activist added that the government needs to put in place a monitoring system to identify vulnerable farmers, offer them timely help and institutional finance and crop insurance. It is an open secret that in the absence of institutionalized finance, the farmers are forced to borrow money from private money lenders at exorbitant interest rates.

Activist Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, which is fighting for farmers' rights, said the government's skewed priorities are responsible for the dire state of affairs. "Government ministers are spending millions on the 'Advantage Vidarbha' meet to attract investment into the region. The Opposition parties are also arranging 'Agro Vision' on a massive scale to lure foreign investors. However, while grand preparations are on for both events this month at Nagpur, nobody has bothered to visit the crisis-ridden farmers," Tiwari said.

The problem, he added, is that farmers trapped in debt spirals are not finding a way out. "Unless the government wakes up to this crisis, the coming summer could see many more farmers losing their lives," he said.

In the absence of procurement of crops at a minimum guaranteed price, farmers are being forced to offload their crops at throwaway prices, resulting in heavy losses. The cultivation cost has almost doubled this year due to a dramatic upward spiral in the prices of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and labor rate whereas the market prices of cash crops, like raw cotton and soyabeans have gone south.

Similarly, while the cotton crop has failed once again (third time in a row), the government has done nothing to protect the cotton growers who are now forced to sell raw cotton at throwaway prices because of abysmal demand.

Experts say there is critical need for a comprehensive intervention to ensure self reliance and capacity building among farmers in modern farming techniques, monitoring and support system for vulnerable farmers and a village-level, transparent system for disbursement of relief packages to improve the situation.

From strengthening institutions that provide credit, seeds and fertilizers and ensure a reasonable minimum support price for agricultural produce to building infrastructure for irrigation, a raft of issues need to be tackled, they say.

"There is also a crying need for a human touch. The National Mental Health Program at primary health care level needs to be fortified to offer support and counseling to vulnerable farmers in the area," said a volunteer.

Pakatan mahu tingkat kebajikan anggota tentera, polis – Anwar

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MELAKA 4 FEBRUARI: Nasib anggota tentera dan polis serta badan pencegahan jenayah tidak akan diabai apabila Pakatan Rakyat diberi mandat mentadbir negara, kata Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Beliau berkata, kebajikan badan itu sama ada masih berkhidmat atau bersara akan diberi setimpal dengan pengorbanan menjaga keselamatan negara.

“Pakatan tidak mahu tentera dan polis dianak tiri kerana mereka juga rakyat. Dalam program, kita peruntukkan beberapa kemudahan yang bakal dinikmati mereka.

“Kita tidak mahu ada antara mereka terpaksa tinggal di rumah setinggan tanpa keperluan asas secukupnya seperti yang berlaku dalam pemerintahan Umno BN.

“Bekerja tidak kira siang atau malam, di tengah-tengah panas, patutnya ada insentif tambahan untuk mereka,” kata Ketua Umum KEADILAN itu.

Berucap pada majlis Hi-Tea bersama 500 rakyat di Kampung Gangsa, Durian Tengah, petang semalam, Anwar berkata, jasa dan pengorbanan polis dan tentera tidak boleh sama sekali dipandang rendah.

“Tentera seolah-olah tiada nilai di mata Umno BN apabila wang mereka dalam Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) dirompak, kemudian diserah kepada Ketua Wanita Umno Selangor, Raja Roopiah.

“Dia kebas duit berjuta-juta, dapat tanah seluas 223 ekar, tentera dapat apa? Inilah contoh pemimpin yang tidak jujur. Demi mengkayakan sesama sendiri, sanggup mencuri dana tentera” katanya.

Turut hadir Pengerusi Majlis Pimpinan KEADILAN Melaka, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin; Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Ayer Keroh, Khoo Paoy Tiong dan Pesuruhjaya Pas Melaka, Adly Zahari.

Short URL: http://www.keadilandaily.com/?p=443

66-Day Countdown to 13GE – Why only aim at 60,000 people for Psy’s “Oppa Gangnam Style” performance on CNY in Penang, should aim for 100,000 or even 250,000 people from Penang, all over Malaysia and neighbouring countries for the sensational event with Psy

The hot topic among Malaysians regardless of race, age and gender throughout the country second day in running is still Psy and his global hit “Oppa Gangnam Style”, especially the reported cost of RM3 million to bring the South Korean superstar to Penang to ensure a turnout crowd of 60,000 people for the Chinese New Year Open House of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Let all Malaysians have a great day and enjoy themselves with Psy and “Oppa Gangnam Style” in Penang on the second day of Chinese New Year on Feb. 11.

In fact, why only aim at 60,000 people and not go for 100,000 people or even 250,000 people from Penang, all over Malaysia and the neighbouring countries to make the sensational event with Psy really historic and memorable?

It will be really historic if Psy’s premier appearance in Malaysia can also inspire Malaysians to emulate South Korea to pull the country from its bootstraps to undertake a genuine national transformation in governance, politics, economics, education and nation-building to enable Malaysia to take a quantum leap in all aspects of national life in the second Merdeka of Malaysia.

Let Psy’s visit to Malaysia mark the beginning of a national debate and soul-searching as to how South Korea, from a country poorer and more backward than Malaysia more than 50 years ago when we achieved Merdeka, succeeded in catapulting itself into an economic power-house which is now much wealthier than Malaysia, with a per capita income two to three times higher than Malaysia, and more advanced than Malaysia in all fields of human endeavour.

The following 18-year series of Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) provides key to this answer:


Transparency International Corruption Perception Index
Year Malaysia South Korea
Rank Score Rank Score
1995 23 5.28 27 4.29
1996 26 5.32 27 5.02
1997 32 5.01 34 4.29
1998 29 5.3 43 4.2
1999 32 5.1 50 3.8
2000 36 4.8 48 4.0
2001 36 5.0 42 4.2
2002 33 4.9 40 4.5
2003 37 5.2 50 4.3
2004 39 5.0 47 4.5
2005 39 5.1 40 5.0
2006 44 5.0 42 5.1
2007 43 5.1 43 5.1
2008 47 5.1 40 5.6
2009 56 4.5 39 5.5
2010 56 4.4 39 5.4
2011 60 4.3 42 5.4
2012 54 49/100 45 56/100
[From 1995 to 2011, the scale from 10(very clean) to 0(highly corrupt) was used, which is now replaced to a scale 0 – 100 from 2012]
The 18-year annual TI CPI series 1995-2012 show:
  • For the first 11 years from 1995-2005, Malaysia was ahead of South Korea in being perceived as more clean and less corrupt than South Korea, even reaching a difference of 18 rankings in 1999, representing a difference in score of 1.30.
  • South Korea beat Malaysia in 2006, with 42nd ranking as compared to Malaysia’s 44th ranking, and after a draw in 2007 with both ranked in 43rd placing with 5.1 score, South Korea has never looked back in getting better ranking and score in the five years from 2008 – 2012, even beating Malaysia with a return difference of 18 places in 2011.
  • Malaysia’s TI CPI ranking and score in the past four years (2009 – 2012), which are the years under the premiership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, are the worst in the past 18 years; while South Korea’s ranking and score for the past four years are among the country’s best in the series.
  • The lesson is clear. In the past 18 years, and particularly in the past four years, South Korea’s governance in transparency and accountability have been successful in restoring public trust by turning back the tide of corruption while the reverse is the case in Malaysia.
    This is one lesson Malaysia must learn from South Korea. Are Malaysians prepared to do so?

Deepak won’t assist Bala’s SD probe yet, says Bar chief

The Malaysian Insider
by Ida Lim


KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan has declined to help the Bar Council investigate a possible professional misconduct in a murder trial witness’ sworn statement despite making the allegation, says its president Lim Chee Wee.

Despite the lack of witnesses, Lim said the council has issued letters to several people to help its queries but he did not name those asked to explain their role in private detective P. Balasubramaniam second statutory declaration (SD) over the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Balasubramaniam later repudiated the second SD.

“It is unfortunate that despite our request for assistance, Deepak Jaikishan has decided not to assist in the enquiries until after March 16, 2013 and that no one has stepped forward to assist us by disclosing the relevant facts regarding this issue,” Lim (picture) wrote in an email to The Malaysian Insider.

When contacted over the phone, Lim said that Deepak had said “he only wants to deal with the new Bar Council president” who will come into office this March 16.

Lim also confirmed in the same phone conversation that the Bar Council had in the course of making enquiries asked a senior lawyer, believed to be Tan Sri Cecil Abraham who has been alleged to be involved in the drafting of the SD, “to explain” his role in the matter.

In the email, Lim said: “The Bar Council has started making the necessary enquiries by issuing various letters to relevant persons whom we believe would have knowledge of facts and seeking their explanation/assistance.

“Such explanation/assistance would assist us to determine whether there is any prima facie evidence of professional misconduct surrounding the preparation of the Second SD.”

Lim said the council would lodge a complaint to the disciplinary board (DB) — the ultimate adjudicating body for complaints against lawyers — if prima facie evidence of misconduct is found.

“Of course, there is nothing to stop anyone else equally concerned with this matter to lodge a complaint to the DB.”

When asked, Lim said the Bar Council makes all its decision itself, before saying that the idea of having a committee of eminent persons to advise the body in this matter was considered, but was then dropped.

“The senior lawyer who we are appointing to advise us is equally eminently suited to do so,” he wrote.

Lim did not name the senior lawyer, but said the external counsel or the non-member of the Bar Council will be advising the body after it finishes its enquiries.

“After completion of enquiries, the Bar Council with the assistance of the advice of this senior lawyer will make a decision on whether there exists prima facie evidence justifying a complaint,” he wrote.

Lim said the council would not disclose details at the stage of enquiries. The disciplinary process starts only when a complaint is lodged with the DB.

“Disciplinary proceedings including the enquiries made by the Bar Council are confidential (unless an adverse finding is made against the lawyer) because the lawyer is presumed to be innocent until a decision is made by DB,” Lim wrote in explaining how the disciplinary process works.

“As and when necessary in public interest matters, BC (Bar Council) has in the past revealed information on the status of the proceedings, e.g. disciplinary proceedings regarding VK Lingam,” he added.

Throughout the emails and phone conversation, Lim did not mention Abraham’s name.

A cloud of mystery has hung over the identity of the lawyer who drew up Balasubramaniam’s second SD, dated a day after his first on July 3, 2008, regarding Altantuya’s 2006 murder, for which two elite police commandos have been convicted and are facing the death sentence. 

Balasubramaniam’s lawyer Americk Singh Sidhu had previously said M. Arunampalam’s role as the lawyer who had drafted the investigator’s second SD had been dispelled by well-connected businessman Deepak, who is also at the centre of the controversy surrounding Balasubramaniam’s two SDs. 

Americk said Deepak had cleared Arunampalam whom the carpet dealer had engaged to handle his property transactions previously as a likely candidate for drafting the second SD. 

He pointed out that only a handful of lawyers would have access to a prominent personality named in Balasubramaniam’s SDs, out of the 14,000 members of the Malaysian Bar. 

Abraham, who has been linked to the second statutory declaration, has refused to comment on his alleged role in preparing the document.

Malaysia: Backsliding on Rights

Image This post is reproduced from here.

Rights to Free Expression, Peaceful Assembly Take Hits

FEBRUARY 1, 2013

(Bangkok) – Prime Minister Najib Razak’s promised reforms did not significantly improve legal protections for basic liberties in Malaysia, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2013. Press restrictions, the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, and intimidation of rights groups exposed the limits of government adherence to internationally recognized human rights.  

In its 665-page report, Human Rights Watch assessed progress on human rights during the past year in more than 90 countries, including an analysis of the aftermath of the Arab Spring.

In Malaysia, Human Rights Watch said, government respect for basic rights and liberties is likely to be tested in the run-up to national parliamentary elections, which must be held no later than June 2013. 

“The Malaysian government’s promised human rights agenda fell far short in practice in 2012,” said Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director at Human Rights Watch. “As elections approach, the government will need to demonstrate its willingness to uphold the rights of all citizens, whatever their political views.”

On April 28, 2012, tens of thousands of peaceful protesters were met by water cannon, teargas, beatings, and arrests during a march and sit-in led by Bersih, a coalition of civil rights organizations, to demand clean and fair elections. A government committee set up to investigate the incident has done little to shed light on the actions of the authorities on that day. Negotiations between the police and a coalition of opposition political parties and activist groups resulted in a peaceful gathering of the “People’s Uprising Rally” in Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on January 12, 2013.

Revisions to longstanding abusive laws had less of an impact on the ground than was hoped, Human Rights Watch said. The replacement of section 27 of the Police Act by the Peaceful Assembly Act did not rescind the absolute power of the police to grant permits for demonstrations. Instead the new law allows police to effectively outlaw marches by prohibiting “moving assemblies” by declaring innumerable sites off limits, and by giving the police the power to set time, date, and place conditions. The People’s Uprising Rally organizers agreed to 27 conditions – including on appropriate slogans – before their rally got approval, and the government is currently investigating compliance with three of the conditions.

In another legal reform that fell short of international standards, the Malaysian government repealed the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA), and substituted the Security Offenses (Special Measures) 2012 Act (SOSMA). SOSMA reduced arbitrary detention to 28 days instead of the indeterminate period permitted under the ISA but added new infringements of rights. The law’s definition of a security defense is overbroad. Police, rather than judges, have the power to authorize communication intercepts, and prosecutors can utilize information as evidence without disclosing sources. Moreover, should a suspect be acquitted and the state appeal that decision, the acquitted suspect may be detained in prison or tethered to a monitoring device until the appeal is settled, a process that could take years. 

Government harassment of human rights defenders continued in 2012, Human Rights Watch said. In response to spurious allegations by Jaringan Melayu Malaysia, an organization with close ties to Malaysia’s leaders, the government pursued a politically motivated investigation of Suaram, a leading Malaysian human rights organization in operation since 1989. At least six government agencies are seeking to find Suaram’s registration and operations illegal. Investigators have harassed staff and supporters, and threatened them with arrest while government politicians and government-controlled media outlets have publicly attacked the organization. On September 3, a week before investigations had begun, a government minister accused Suaram of keeping “highly suspicious” accounts and said that “99.4 percent” of its activities were “money collecting.”

Groups supporting the rights of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) people fared even worse, Human Rights Watch said. In two speeches in 2012, Prime Minister Najib condoned discrimination by singling out the LGBT community as a threatening “deviant culture” that “would not have a place in the country.” Not only was the annual Seksualiti Merdeka (Sexual Diversity, in English) festival canceled in 2012 amidst ongoing intimidation of the LGBT community, but a court refused a judicial review of the police ban on the 2011 festival, a decision that festival organizers say leaves future festivals in legal limbo.

“The Malaysian authorities should respect the fundamental rights of non-discrimination and equality, and stop demonizing people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Boris Dittrich, advocacy director for the LGBT program at Human Rights Watch.

Reforms to freedom of the press also proved to be less than anticipated, Human Rights Watch said. The Printing Presses and Publications Act was amended, dropping the requirement for annual licensing of publications and ending the Home Affairs Minister’s power to award or rescind publishing licenses without court review. However, the revised law still requires that new publications obtain initial approval, and licenses still may be arbitrarily revoked.

The government appealed a 2011 Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling that a “license to publish is a right, not a privilege,” therefore requiring review of the government’s “improper and irrational” unwillingness to issue a license to the largest on-line newspaper, Malaysiakini, to publish a daily print edition. 

An amendment to the Evidence Act provides that computer owners and operators of computer networks are publishers and thus responsible for the content displayed on their screens unless they could prove they had nothing to do with the content. This raises concerns about the presumption of innocence as well as free expression.

Malaysian police appear to routinely violate the rights of persons in custody, Human Rights Watch said. Police personnel have employed unnecessary or excessive force during demonstrations, while carrying out arrests, and in police lockups. Deaths in custody, routinely attributed to disease, go uninvestigated, suspects are beaten to coerce confessions, and criminal suspects die in suspicious circumstances during apprehension by police. Alleged police abuses go uninvestigated.

Malaysian immigration law still does not recognize refugees and asylum seekers, and prohibits them from working and their children from going to school. Unauthorized migrants face arrest and detention in unsanitary and overcrowded immigration detention centers, and caning for violating the immigration law. Anti-trafficking efforts conflate human trafficking with people smuggling, and punishes rather than protects trafficking victims by holding them in inadequate, locked shelters that resemble detention centers rather than care facilities. The government continues to do little to protect migrant domestic workers from beatings and sexual abuse by their employers.

“Numerous sectors of Malaysia’s economy depend on migrant workers, yet Malaysia continues to treat them as disposable people who can be used and abused,” said Robertson. “The government should fully respect migrant workers’ rights and stop re-victimizing those who have been trafficked to Malaysia.”

Reject All Ideologies That Deviate From Islamic Teachings - Muhyiddin

SERDANG, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin called on Muslims in this country to reject all ideologies that deviate from true Islamic teachings as these could threaten faith in the religion and disrupt harmony.

"It is unfortunate if Muslims are allowed to be disunited all because a section of the Muslim community is influenced by deviant ideologies," he said.

Speaking at the opening of the Islamic Education Teachers National Conference here, he stressed the importance of strengthening unity among the ummah (Muslim community) to enjoy all the blessings from Allah.

He said the Muslim community should stick to oneness of heart, thinking, goals and in practices guided by the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah (specific words, habits, practices and tacit approvals ascribed to Prophet Muhammad).

In this regard, Muhyiddin who is also Education Minister, said the more than 52,000 Islamic Education teachers in the country could play a more active role in disseminating true Islamic teachings to society.

"They should be more active in delivering the Islamic message based on the Quran and Sunnah and in guiding the community towards truth," he said.

On Islamic Education development, Muhyiddin said the government was working at making the Dini and Tahfiz syllabi as part of the national curriculum.

He said the matter was still being studied and when approved, the ministry would provide qualified teachers, besides assistance in the form of grants, textbooks and systematic assessment for both fields of study.

Muhyiddin noted that the ministry had also recruited 3,384 Jawi, Quran, Arabic and Fardu Ain (J-QAF) teachers to fill the vacancies in 2,054 schools.

He said that 26 Sekolah Agama Rakyat (public religious schools) and Sekolah Agama Negeri (state religious schools) had changed their status to Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (government-assisted religious schools), bringing the total number now to 195.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin urged all quarters to play their role to ensure the success of the National Education Development Blueprint 2013-2025 in facing the challenges.

"To compete with the most developed countries in the world, our education system should be able to produce a knowledgeable, critical and creative thinking young generation with good leadership skills and the ability to communicate effectively at the global level," he said.

Candlelight vigil for Sukumaran at Kajang police station

Another reason why we need the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as people gather to protest the death of Sukumaran who was found dead and handcuffed after a few police personnel and bystanders had chased him down a street.